Book-umbrella.



J. SWEENEY. BOOK UMBRELLA. APPLICATION FILED JULY 17; 1913.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

JOSQ D/7 Sweeney Inventor 1 EM m $83 Attorney Witnesses:

COLUMBIA P'LANOORAFH C0 WASHINGTDN, D4 C JOSEPH SWEENEY, 0F MIDDLETOWN, OHIO.

BOOK-UMBRELLA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Application filed July 17, 1913. Serial No. 779,459.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Middletown, Butler county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

It often occurs that clerical work, by way of entries in books or on sheets, must be done out of doors and under rainy and windy conditions seriously interfering with the work by wetting the paper so that it cannot well be written upon or so as to damage the writing which may have been done. An example of this outdoor work will be found in railroad yards where yard clerks enter up data regarding standing and moving cars.

The present invention relates to an umbrella adapted to receive a book or sheet and to guard the same from rain or wind while permitting the book or sheet to be freely inspected and written upon.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of a book-umbrella exemplifying my invention.

In the drawing :1, indicates the device as a whole, the same consisting of a portable boxlike structure with one end open and with one or more transparent walls permitting inspection of the interior; 2, the upper wall, this wall being transparent and formed, preferably, of celluloid suitably held in the skeleton frame of the general structure; 3, the right hand side wall, of similar construction; 4, the distant end wall, which is also, preferably, transparent; 5, the open nearer end of the structure; 6, an inwardly presenting groove extending along the lower wall of the structure at its juncture with the left hand wall, this groove being of such dimensions as to properly receive the hinged edge of a book, or the left hand edge of a sheet or pile of sheets of paper on which entries are to be made; 7 the book with its hinged edge disposed within the groove 6, the dimensions of the umbrella being such that while the book is in place its leaves may lie down upon the lower wall or be turned up, as required, against the left hand wall; 8, that portion of the open book which lies upon the lower wall of the umbrella, it being assumed that the writing is to be upon the upper exposed surface of this portion of the book; 9, that portion of the open book which lies against the left hand wall of the umbrella, the exposed surface of this portion of the book being available for inspection of the entries or for the addition of entries, if desired; 10, a cllp mounted on the upper surface of the lower wall of the umbrella near its open end and adapted to hold down that portion of the open book which lies upon the lower wall; 11, a similar clip pertaining to the left hand wall and to the upturned portion of the book; 12 an outwardly projecting flange on the upper and right hand walls at the open end of the umbrella; and 13, a handle secured to the left hand wall of the umbrella to permit the user to properly support the device when in use and to conveniently carry it about.

It will, of course, be understood that the structure will be of a size suited for the book to be dealt with.

A book having been placed within the structure, with its hinged edge disposed in the groove 6 may, under appropriate fitting conditions, be held therein, and, if needed, the book may be further retained in idle closed condition by the clip 10. Under these conditions the umbrella, carried open end down by means of the handle, may be carried around as desired without danger of the book becoming wet.

When the device is to be used, in making entries, it is turned to horizontal position with the open end toward the user, and supported by the users left thumb in the handle and his left fingers under the lower wall. The book is now to be opened at desired place and the opened up portion held by the clip 11, the remaining portion of the open book being held by clip 10. The user now inserts his right hand into the umbrella and makes such entries as are proper upon either exposed bookleaf, and when another leaf is wanted it is released from clip 10 and turned up to be retained by clip 11. In this use of the device the book is completely protected from rain and wind without interference with the inspection of any portion of the book or with the making of entries on any portion of the book.

In the ordinary use of this device the distant end of the structure will generally be the higher, to suit bodily convenience, and in case of rain the water falling upon the structure would flow toward the user and might flow in undesirable quantities upon his wrist or forearm. Flange 12 intercepts this flowing water and causes it to flow harmlessly down from the device. It is to be observed from the drawing that the left hand wall has its top sloping outwardly. The purpose of this is to provide for a somewhat more extended opening of the book than would be the case if the left hand and lower walls were at right angles to each other.

It is to be clearly understood that the specific structure set forth is merely a single exemplification of my invention. It has been my purpose to explain the principle of my invention and to set forth the best embodiment of that principle which is within my present contemplation.

I claim l. A book-umbrella comprising, a box-like structure having an open end and one or more transparent walls, and means disposed within said structure for holding a book or paper to be written upon, combined substan tially as set forth.

2. A book-umbrella comprising, a box-like structure having an open end and one or more transparent walls, an outwardly projecting flange at the open end of the structure, and means disposed within said structure for holding a book or paper to be written upon, combined substantially as set forth.

3. A book-umbrella comprising, a box-like structure having an open end and one or more transparent walls, the left hand wall of said structure-having its top sloping outwardly, and means disposed within said structure for holding a book or paper to be written upon, combined substantially as set forth.

4:. A book-umbrella comprising, a box-like structure having an open end and one or more transparent walls and having along the juncture between the left hand and lower walls an inwardly presenting groove adapted to receive the hinged edge of a book, combined substantially as set forth.

5. A book-umbrella comprising, a box-like structure having an open end and one or more transparent walls and having along the juncture between the left hand and lower walls an inwardly presenting groove adapted to receive the hinged edge-of a book, and clips upon the inner surface of the left hand and lower walls near the open end of the structure and adapted to hold in open condition a book held in said groove, combined substantially as set forth.

6. A book-umbrella comprising, a box-like structure having an open end and one or more transparent walls, means disposed within said structure for holding a book or paper to be written upon, and a handle adapted to serve when using or transporting the structure, combined substantially as set forth.

7 A book-umbrella comprising, a portar ble structure having transparent wall-portions and open at one end, and means disposed within said structure for holding a book or paper to be written upon, combined substantially as set forth.

8. A book-umbrella comprising, a portable structure having transparent wall-portions and open at one end, and clips disposed within said structure for holding open a book to be written upon, combined substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH SWEENEY. Witnesses:

WVM. ELTERS, PAUL HANCOCK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

